1. Resilience

The quicker you can bounce back from mishaps, the quicker you'll find success.

Welcome Failure. "We learn more when we lose than when we win,"says Michael Lardon, M.D., author of Mastering Golf's Mental Game. Of her most painful mistakes, Wie says, "They just teach me what to do differently next time."

Fact-Check Your Thoughts. To avoid getting stuck in "I'm no good"mode, watch your inner dialogue. "We almost always distort things after a loss," Dr. Lardon says. Just because you were edged out by someone else doesn't mean you're talentless or unworthy. Instead, check your accuracy. Chances are, you made one mistake. "When you restate what really happened, you'll feel better quickly," he says.

2. Confidence

Believing you can win makes it more likely to actually happen.

Embrace Your Ego. "There is no such thing as too much confidence," author Jim Afremow says. "That's like saying your eyesight is too good." Trusting in your own abilities helps you perform, whereas second-guessing can lead to overtrying.

Act Like a Champ. "When you're not feeling good, use your body to fake out your brain," says Sian Beilock, Ph.D., author of How the Body Knows Its Mind. Standing tall increases confidence, perhaps by boosting levels of testosterone. "I always stand up straight, look ahead and smile when I'm playing, even when I don't want to," Wie says. "It definitely does help."

Amp Up Your Energy. Wie credits her comeback in part to her no-refined-sugar diet and new two-hour, six-day-a-week workout. Energy boosts physical and mental confidence, psychologist Jim Loehr says.

3. Grit

Talent alone isn't enough. You need perseverance, too.

Find Your Why. Have a reason bigger than yourself that makes all the work worth it. "If you have a deep sense of purpose, you'll never allow yourself to surrender," says Loehr. "You'll feel you have a destiny to fulfill."

Fall in Love. When things get tough, write down everything you once loved about pursuing your dream. "It's like any relationship," Rotella says. Reminding yourself of what excites you can reignite your passion and help you stick with it.

Win Every Day. Write down daily action steps to help you get closer to your long-term goal, Afremow says. Wie agrees: "I really don't think about the big picture at all. I just try to break it down as small as I can."

4. Focus

Varying between high and low intensity is key.

Welcome Your Butterflies. "We grow up thinking that if we get really anxious before we talk or compete, there's something wrong with us," Afremow says. "But nerves are just your body getting ready to perform. You need that energy, so let it flow."

Take Breaks. Save your focus for when you need it most. "If you grind for five hours, you'll be so exhausted, you'll make mistakes," Dr. Lardon says. Instead, break for 15 minutes each hour.

Psych Yourself Down "If you call it a 'big game' or a 'big day,' you've already screwed yourself," Afremow says. Instead, make like Wie and flip the script: "I always try to make practice feel like a tournament, and vice versa."